Lifesaving skills lessons for child swimmers

Children being offered lifesaving skills with swimming classes for Rookie Lifeguarding week.

Medway Council is encouraging children across Medway to learn vital lifesaving skills while having fun in the water.

Our swimming pools are all supporting the Royal Life Saving Society UK’s Rookie Lifeguarding Week campaign.

From 5-12 March 2018, all schools that have lessons as part of the Medway Sport Swim Academy are being offered the chance to have a rookie lifeguarding session instead of their normal lesson.

The Rookie Lifeguard programme teaches children how to swim and enjoy water safely, whether in shallow or deeper water. The fun sessions equip children with lifesaving skills and build confidence in and around water and the sea.

Schools can also access a range of fun activities to use in the classroom to support the practical sessions.

Medway Sport Swimming Lessons Co-ordinator Denise Todd said:

“For most children, Rookie Lifeguard will be the first opportunity to explore water safety and alternative safe aquatic play while learning key skills that could save their lives or the lives of others.  We would love as many children as possible in our area to know basic lifesaving skills which are not only fun to learn but could mean the difference between life and death if an emergency should occur.”

Medway Sport runs weekly rookie lifeguarding courses as part of the RLSS’s junior award scheme at Medway Park on Thursday evenings from 5pm.

Older aspiring lifeguards are also able to apply to train with Medway Sport to become qualified lifeguards. The next six-day course for the National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) runs 9-14 April at Medway Park Sports Centre in Gillingham.

For more information on Rookie courses, the Medway Sport Swim Academy and lifeguard training visit www.medway.gov.uk/swimminglessons or email [email protected].

For more information on the Royal Life Saving Society and its work and other lifesaving courses visit rlss.org.uk